On the one-year anniversary of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, EU countries are coming together for the first time to adopt a common stance against Israel’s military actions.

Israel’s latest attack on United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon appears to have crossed the line for European countries — even those that have traditionally supported its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

After hours of negotiations, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Joseph Borel called on all 27 countries in the bloc to sign a joint statement late Sunday condemning Israel’s attacks on UN missions after 15 UN staff members were injured when Israel Defense Forces forced their way into the Lebanese base.

The EU “expresses particularly serious concern regarding attacks by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which left many peacekeepers injured,” the statement said. “These attacks must stop immediately.”

The move marks a departure from previous EU efforts to take a unified stance on Israel’s military actions, given the stark divide between the most critical countries such as Spain and Ireland, and those more sympathetic: Germany, Austria and Hungary.

THE Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Salenberg he said on Monday that the attacks were “unacceptable”, adding that around 120 Austrian soldiers were involved in the UN mission in Lebanon.

“Austria is not a bystander,” he added. “No, these [τα αυστριακά στρατεύματα] they will not retire. Yes, they will continue to fulfill the mandate.”

“We have contacted our Israeli friend to make our position clear,” Sullenberg said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

OR Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni condemned Israeli military strikes on UN peacekeeping bases in southern Lebanon, including a strike on a base housing about 1,100 Italian soldiers.

Specifically, as reported by the office of the Italian Prime Minister, Meloni had a telephone conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday where she condemned the attacks. During the call, he “reiterated that it is unacceptable for UNIFIL to be attacked by Israeli armed forces, recalling that the mission operates under a Security Council mandate to assist in regional stability. He stressed that the safety of UNIFIL personnel must be absolutely guaranteed at all times,” according to a statement posted on the government website.

“Meloni renewed Italy’s commitment to this issue, expressing her belief that the full implementation of Resolution 1701 can contribute to the stabilization of the Israeli-Lebanese border and guarantee that all displaced persons can return to their homes.”

Meloni also emphasized what she called the “urgent need” for de-escalation in the region.

At the same time, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to express deep concern about Israeli operations in Gaza targeting civilians. Specifically, in his statement he states:

“France expresses its deep concern at the extreme seriousness of the situation in northern Gaza where the Israeli army has been conducting a military operation with heavy casualties for several days and has issued evacuation orders affecting the entire population.

France recalls that any forced movement of the civilian population constitutes a serious violation of international law.

France condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli strikes that targeted many civilian infrastructures where the displaced were taking refuge in Jabaliya, Deir el-Balah and the Shati and Nousseirat camps. These attacks on civilians are unacceptable.

France calls on Israel to ensure the permanent protection of all civilians and to facilitate the population’s immediate access to humanitarian aid, in accordance with its obligations under international law, the respect of which is obligatory for all.”